Issue #28: darkness. HAPPINESS. blood deficiency
SLEEP + fall GLIMMERS + diastasis recti + the pressure of PARENTING
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happy world MENOPAUSE day!
Happiness is a few pounds heavier.
It’s accepting being tired.
Being older. Being softer.
Being more reaching oak and less wildflower.
Happiness is taking days to bask in silence.
Not doing. Just being.
Happiness is no longer shrinking.
It’s releasing.
Guilt. Regret.
The weight of the past, and the fear of the future.
It’s discovering the joy in simplicity.
The beauty in the little things.
The power in the everyday.
Happiness by L.E. Bowman
Author of What I Learned From the Trees and The Evolution of a Girl
BLOOD deficiency. womens HEALTH. mood.sleep.
In Chinese medicine, the concept of Blood plays a fundamental role in maintaining physical and emotional well-being. Blood is seen as a nourishing and moistening substance that provides the body with vitality, ensuring that organs and tissues function smoothly. Let’s explore what Blood Deficiency looks like and how it affects sleep, mood, and overall women's health.
What is Blood Deficiency?
Blood Deficiency occurs when the body lacks adequate nourishment or the quality of Blood is insufficient to sustain optimal functioning. This can manifest in various ways, but it’s often connected to diet, lifestyle, and specific life phases such as menstruation, childbirth, and menopause. Women are especially prone to this pattern from a Chinese medicine persepctive due to the unique demands placed on their systems, such as the regular loss of blood through menstruation and the additional demands of pregnancy and postpartum recovery.
In Chinese medicine, Blood is not simply about the physical substance, but also about its role in harmonizing the body and the mind. When Blood is insufficient, both physical and emotional health can suffer.
How Blood Deficiency Affects Sleep
A healthy and well-nourished body promotes restful sleep, but when Blood is deficient, the ability to settle into a deep, restorative sleep can be compromised. Blood is understood to anchor the mind and spirit, which allows the body to enter a peaceful, restorative state. Without sufficient nourishment, the mind becomes unsettled, leading to symptoms such as insomnia, difficulty falling asleep, or waking up frequently during the night.
This restless sleep can further deplete energy levels, creating a cycle of fatigue that becomes difficult to break. In the case of chronic Blood Deficiency, this lack of restful sleep may persist, contributing to overall mental and emotional imbalance.
The Link Between Blood Deficiency and Mood
Blood also plays a key role in emotional regulation. When it is abundant and circulating properly, there is a sense of emotional stability and resilience. However, with a deficiency, symptoms like anxiety, restlessness, or even mild depression may emerge. This happens because the heart, which governs the mind and emotions in Chinese medicine, relies on Blood to maintain a calm, centered state.
Women experiencing Blood Deficiency may notice increased irritability, mood swings, or feelings of being overwhelmed. These symptoms often worsen after menses, pregnancy, postpartum recovery, or menopause, all of which demand higher levels of nourishment. Addressing the underlying Blood Deficiency often results in an improvement in mood, creating greater emotional balance and mental clarity.
Blood Deficiency and Women’s Health
For women, Blood is an essential component of reproductive health. Blood Deficiency can lead to irregular menstrual cycles, light or absent periods, and sometimes even infertility. When Blood is deficient, the reproductive organs do not receive the nourishment they need, which can disrupt hormonal balance and overall vitality.
During postpartum recovery, women are especially vulnerable to Blood Deficiency due to the blood loss experienced during childbirth. Without proper care and replenishment, this deficiency can lead to postpartum depression, exhaustion, and difficulty producing breast milk.
Menopause is another life stage where Blood Deficiency can become prevalent. As the body transitions, the natural decline in reproductive capacity and hormonal shifts can exacerbate deficiencies. This can result in symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, and emotional instability, all of which can be mitigated by addressing the underlying Blood Deficiency.
Blood Deficiency + Tongue Diagnosis
In Chinese medicine, the tongue is a valuable diagnostic tool that reflects the state of internal health. A tongue that indicates Blood Deficiency often appears pale, thin, and possibly dry, lacking the vibrant color that reflects sufficient nourishment in the body. These signs provide practitioners with insights into the body’s internal condition and guide treatment accordingly.
Nourishing Blood for Better Health
The good news is that Blood Deficiency can be supported and corrected through a variety of lifestyle and dietary changes. Some key strategies include:
Dietary Support: Eating foods that are rich in nutrients and deeply nourishing is essential. Dark leafy greens, beets, red meat, eggs, and foods high in iron and protein can help replenish Blood. Bone broths, red dates, goji berries, and other traditional foods are also commonly recommended in Chinese medicine to nourish the body.
Herbs + Supplements: Chinese herbal formulas are tailored to each individual’s needs and can be incredibly effective in nourishing Blood. Common herbs used to treat Blood Deficiency include Dang Gui (Angelica sinensis), Shu Di Huang (Rehmannia), and Bai Shao (White Peony Root), all of which support the building and circulation of Blood. If one has a history of anemia or a history of heavy blood loss with periods or childbirth, we often suggest a liquid iron supplement such as this one to boost blood.
Acupuncture: Acupuncture treatments work to stimulate blood circulation and promote the body’s natural ability to produce and nourish Blood. Regular treatments can help alleviate symptoms such as insomnia, mood disturbances, and menstrual irregularities by addressing the root of the imbalance.
Lifestyle Changes: Adequate rest, stress management, and practices such as meditation or gentle movement like Tai Chi or yoga are important in preserving the body’s nourishment and preventing the depletion of Blood.
TASTE: Well Plated Every Day. We are excited to try recipes from the new and 2nd cookbook by Erin Clarke of Well Plated. Released this week, the “collection of 100+ recipes for easy and creative everyday meals. Complete with tips for healthy swaps and “next level” flavor boosts that make each dish even more delicious and company-worthy, Well Plated Every Day is your roadmap to great food on the daily.” Yes, please!
SEE: 5 Minute Boob Lift Workout. OK, so I (Rebecca) will admit that this post from @diaryofafitmommyofficial caught my attention on a mindless scroll session. Looks easy enough and as someone who tries to get away without wearing a bra if I can (thank you bodysuits), I am curious. I mean a little lift might be nice;) So I am going to try to add this into my routine and report back! Stay tuned!
Speaking of boobs, have you downloaded our Breast.Health WOVXN Wellness Guide? Released last year in alignment with the start of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, our FREE guide offers current guidelines and red flags, as well as ideas of how caring for our breasts can be a powerful tool to promote overall health and wellness.
SMELL: Fall Simmer Pot Recipe. As the weather gets colder, we love us some simmer pots to use up food scraps and to get us into the fall vibe. This recipe from Allianna’s Kitchen is a great way to enjoy a cozy Fall evening. If you are looking for gluten-free and dairy-free recipes, check out her other Fall recipes: Gluten Free Pumpkin Bread, Oat Flour Pumpkin Muffins, Carrot and Butternut Squash Soup, Gluten Free Apple Cake, and her Pear Cocktail Recipe.
HEAR: Cardinals At The Window. Released last week, this 135-track benefit album was created to support hurricane and flood relief efforts in North Carolina, particularly for communities in Western Appalachia affected by recent storms. The album features a broad mix of artists contributing unreleased tracks, including big names like The Avett Brothers, R.E.M., The War on Drugs, Tyler Childers, Fleet Foxes, and Phish. The project symbolizes hope and community, drawing on the Southern belief that a cardinal sighting brings good luck, which inspired the album’s title. Proceeds from the album go toward rebuilding efforts, helping communities recover from the devastation. The wide-ranging genres and artists make it both a musical treasure and a meaningful way to support those impacted by the disaster.
TOUCH: Diastasis Recti. Do you experience a gap, bulge, softness (jelly-like), or doming near your belly button? Pain, core weakness, constipation, or urgency? Diastasis recti is a condition where the abdominal muscles, specifically the rectus abdominis, separate along the midline due to excessive pressure or stretching, often during pregnancy. This separation can weaken the core, leading to issues such as lower back pain, poor posture, and reduced abdominal function. Evaluation and support for diastasis recti can be helpful to promote muscle re-engagement and core stability. In the MKE area? Pelvic Health & Wellness is offering free diastasis recti screenings next week. Get more info + register here!
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the pressure of PARENTING
The recent Daily podcast episode "The Parents Aren't All Right" explores the immense pressure modern parents face, which has escalated into a public health crisis. The episode highlights the shift from more relaxed parenting styles of the past to today’s “intensive parenting,” where parents feel obligated to be constantly involved in their children's lives. This pressure has led to increased stress, anxiety, and mental health struggles, particularly for mothers. Advances in neuroscience have fueled this trend, with research showing that early childhood experiences shape long-term development, making parents feel responsible for their children's success at every stage. The podcast stresses the need for community support and self-care as essential remedies to this overwhelming trend.
It definitely feels like a lot sometimes. How are you feeling? We would love to hear your thoughts.
the CHALLENGE: waking in the dark.
The time has arrived and somehow I am never ready for it. My brain thinks the darkness comes later in year. The shift to darker mornings is really challenging and I've been struggling with waking up and finding energy to start the day. (The puppy waking between 3-5am and then all of us falling back to sleep probably hasn’t helped either;) To give myself some grace, I'm allowing for a slower start by heading to bed earlier, letting myself sleep in a little longer (sometimes until my daughter's alarm goes off), or reading in bed in the morning making the transition into the day feel more gentle. As we move through this phase until the time change, I'm trying to embrace the lower energy levels rather than fight them. This is a temporary, seasonal shift and good reminder that it is OK to slow down.
Read on for more on SUNRISE alarm clocks, fall GLIMMERS, and a HAPPINESS meditation.
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